Month: May 2017

Few Christians Have A Biblical World-View

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I’ve been seeing a few different reports on this survey today. Although based in the U.S., I suspect that results would be similar in Australia. I’m not sure whether to throw up my hands in despair or just try harder and make sure my own flock know who the Shepherd is.

 

From Relevant Magazine:

Research: Only 17% of Christians Actually Have a Biblical Worldview

BY RELEVANT GOD MAY 11, 2017

A new joint study by Barna and Summit Ministries looks at the worldviews of practicing Christians. The results aren’t flattering. Among other things, it found that only 17 percent of Christians have what the researchers consider a biblical worldview. For that definition, Barna these markers: “believing that absolute moral truth exists; the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches; Satan is considered to be a real being or force, not merely symbolic; a person cannot earn their way into Heaven by trying to be good or do good works; Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth; and God is the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the world who still rules the universe today.”

Among other things, it found that only 17 percent of Christians have what the researchers consider a biblical worldview. For that definition, Barna these markers: “believing that absolute moral truth exists; the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches; Satan is considered to be a real being or force, not merely symbolic; a person cannot earn their way into Heaven by trying to be good or do good works; Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth; and God is the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the world who still rules the universe today.”

The full article is here

Massive Pro-life Petition Stuns NSW Parliament.

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 Some really great news from lifesitenews.com

Massive pro-life petition stuns parliament in New South Wales

Abortion , Abortion Law Reform , Australia , New South Wales , Parliament , Petition

SYDNEY, Australia, May 10, 2017 (LifeSiteNews) — The Legislative Council (upper house) of the New South Wales parliament was brought to a shocked silence as one of the largest official parliamentary petitions in its history was tabled by the Hon. Greg Donnelly MLC.

The petition with 56,559 signatures opposed the Abortion Law Reform (Miscellaneous Acts Amendment) Bill 2016. The Bill aims to “repeal offenses relating to abortion, to specify a ground of unsatisfactory professional conduct by a medical practitioner with respect to abortion, and to establish exclusion zones in order to prohibit certain behavior near premises at which abortions are provided.”

Having announced the number of signatories as part of the tabling process, Donnelly rose to read the content of the petition to the parliament. MPs looked away from their phones to pay attention and immediately noticed two of Donnelly’s staff bringing in large document boxes containing the petition sheets. An audible gasp filled the chamber.

Pro-lifers in the parliamentary gallery to witness the petition being tabled described it as “truly a ‘William Wilberforce’ moment” as the whole room was silent while Donnelly read out the petition.

The petition was the culmination of a two-week effort by the pro-life community. It contained signatures of residents from Sydney and throughout regional areas in New South Wales.

“It was much bigger than expected. I never thought we would get that many. We were really hoping to get 10,000” said petition coordinator Rebecca Gosper from Youth For Life.

The author of the Bill, Greens MP Mehreen Faruqi‏, was not present when the pro-life petition was tabled. She has her own official petition in favor of the Bill, running since November 2015, which is yet to be presented to the parliament. An unofficial online petition sits at 2,028 signatures.

Gosper, a university student who studies Human Sciences, combined with a few friends and created a page on Facebook for the pro-life campaign. What she expected to involve a dozen churches quickly took on an organic life of its own and evolved into 160 churches, sporting, and general community groups getting involved.

The campaign was not limited to the churches, as pro-abortion activists like to claim. “People were really receptive in that regard and were keen to do something practical to make a difference in New South Wales” Gosper said. Even shop owners in country towns became involved.

A mere 48 hours before the first church visits were scheduled, Gosper found herself flooded with messages from volunteers offering to collect signatures from various groups. She ended up working 18 straight hours just to stay on top of the messages and coordinate the flood of volunteers.

After the first weekend, she estimated that there would be a healthy 15,000 to 20,000 signatures. As they were counting, the petition forms kept arriving and the estimate was revised to between 30,000 and 40,000. Then, on Monday with just 48 hours to go, she received a text message from a volunteer that they had 49,000 signatures. Also, there were more that needed to be counted in addition to the petition forms waiting at Parliament House that arrived at network drop-off points.

Gosper says the two-week time frame was motivating for people and the short length didn’t turn out to be an issue. “It was amazing to see how well people responded when they were given the chance,” she said.

Faruqi‏’s Bill looks like it will have an uphill battle to pass the upper house before moving through to the lower house of parliament. LifeSiteNews has learned that even pro-abortion MPs are planning to vote against the Bill due to its extreme nature, similar to what was attempted with the Pyne bills in Queensland. It is also understood that Liberal party leaders are planning to vote against the bill to prevent it from making it to the lower house and becoming an issue in the lead-up to the next election.

Faruqi‏’s office was contacted for comment but did not provide a response. The bill is scheduled to be debated Thursday.

How to Win The Argument

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face-pie

So a grumpy looking man plants a lemon meringue pie in Qantas CEO Alan Joyce’s face to make a statement. The media didn’t mention what it was about, and to be fair, it wasn’t immediately obvious.

 

Given the clips of the incident followed by Joyce returning and laughing it off with some jokes, and the angry disposition of his attacker who will you have more sympathy for?

 

It turns out that the assailant is a Christian. He chose lemon meringue because it was soft and wouldn’t hurt him- so compassionate.

 

He is also a member of the Nationals.

 

Later he produced a statement apologising but stating that he was protesting about the way that Joyce and a few other corporate types are abusing their position to bully corporations and individuals to accept same sex “marriage.”

 

Clearly not the way to go. For one thing he did not get the message across at all, except to a small number of news nerds. Maybe there was better coverage in WA where the event took place.

 

Also, unless you are promoting a “progressive” cause you will probably get bad press for this sort of antic. Much better to get a mob together and hold some signs up so people really know what you are protesting.

 

But for christians, called to imitate Christ, it is particularly a bad idea. We have to always walk in the ways of Christ. That means discussing respectfully rather than going the face pie route, being winsome and loving our enemies whether real or ideological.

 

So no pies in the face. Not even soft lemon meringue pies. Not even when you disagree with your pastor.

Reflection on 1 Peter 2:1-10

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1-Peter

Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+2.1-10

Scripture

So like new born babies you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.

Observation

We are to crave spiritual milk so that we can grow in the Lord. We have come to Christ, the cornerstone of God’s temple. We are like living stones that build the temple, even priests offering daily sacrifices that are pleasing to the Lord.

Jesus is the cornerstone but He is a stumbling stone to those who reject God’s word. We are God’s chosen people, royal priests, a holy nation.

Application

When we first come to Christ we are described as being born again. Spiritually we are babies. New born babies are dependent on others, don’t know much, and cry when provoked. While babies are delightful, nobody wants them to stay that way.

Yet we have many spiritual babies who have never matured in their faith despite being saved for 10 years, 20 years, even 50 years or more. They are content to stay the way they are- infants in their thinking and unable to do much in the body of Christ.

Peter tells the new-borns they must crave pure spiritual milk. That means reading the Bible, listening to teachers and pastors, being mentored by mature christians, learning to pray and to minister to others.

We have taught people to fall over the starting line of the race and to stay there rather than running to the finish line. Too many christians remain dependent on others when they should already be growing in Christ and helping others to do the same.

There are many churches that feed their people Diet Coke Zero rather than milk, let alone meat. People go to be entertained but never challenged or shown how to grow.

We take God’s grace, and that should move us to cry “More, Lord!” His tender mercy is meant to move us into deeper intimacy with Him, which is then expressed in the way we relate to others, the way we relate to God and our behaviour and motivations through life.

Prayer

Lord, I need you to mature me, to grow me, to show me how to live for you. Please help me to crave your spiritual food. Amen.

Reflection on Acts 7:55-60

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07-Stoning-of-Stephen

Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+7.55-60

Scripture

And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honour at God’s right hand!”

Observation

Stephen is testifying before the Sanhedrin. As the leaders become increasingly enraged by his assertion that Jesus is the Messiah, Stephen sees the glory of God with Jesus standing at God’s right hand.

The elders drag him out of the city to stone him, laying their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.

Stephen calls out to the Lord, “Lord Jesus receive my spirit” and then “Lord don’t charge this against them.” Then he dies.

Application

It is quite awesome to have a vision of heaven, to see what is happening in God’s throne room. There are times when, if we ask, God will grant us this kind of vision. It gives us a greater insight into what God is doing and where we fit into His plans.

The important thing in Stephen’s revelation is that he sees God the Father on the throne with Jesus standing at His right hand.

Jesus is not just a historical figure. He is alive now, interceding for us and representing us before the Father.

Jesus is in the place of authority and power in God’s kingdom. In fact, He is the way we get into the Kingdom. Through Jesus we have total access to the Father, all the time.

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, you are my saviour and my Lord. Thank you for the knowledge that you have opened the way for me and all who trust in you. Amen.

Reflection on John 10:1-10

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429px-The_Lord_is_my_Good_Shepherd.jpg

Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+10.1-10

Scripture

”When he has brought out all his own [sheep], he goes on ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.

Observation

Anyone who does not enter a sheep pen by the gate is a thief and robber. The shepherd enters the paddock by the gate and calls the sheep by name. They follow him because they know his voice. They will never follow a stranger because they do not know his voice.

Jesus says, “I am the gate for the sheep.” Those who came before, the false Messiahs and false teachers, were like thieves and robbers. Thieves come to steal, kill and destroy, but Jesus has come to give life to the full.

Application

Jesus calls us by name. He knows us. We are not a blank face in the crowd or a six-digit number.

The true follower of Jesus knows His voice and follows Him where He leads. We follow because we know the voice.

There is a depth of intimacy in our relationship with Jesus. He knows us more deeply than we know ourselves. He is the Good Shepherd who loves His sheep.

Jesus knows me and loves me!

I know Him. I recognise His voice as He speaks to my heart. I hear His voice in Scriptures and in good preaching. I hear His voice when He speaks to me in dreams and visions. I hear His voice in the stillness and quiet places.

He leads and I follow that voice; it works best that way. Sometimes I try to follow other voices, but it usually ends badly.

It is so much better to follow the shepherd of my soul.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, please help me to hear your voice and to follow your voice alone. Amen.

Reflection on 1 Peter 2:19-25

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1 peter 02_21-1600

Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+2.19-21

Scripture

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree so that we might die to our sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

Observation

This passage is primarily directed at slaves being punished by harsh masters, but it is applicable to every believer.

It is commendable to bear up under unjust suffering because of our trust in God. It is not worthy if we suffer for doing wrong. The experience of suffering unjustly is a part of our calling in Christ, for He suffered on our behalf even though He committed no sin.

Jesus did not retaliate or threaten those who afflicted Him. Instead He entrusted Himself to His Father. As a result, we are set free from our sins.

Application

Jesus bore our sins on His body when He hung on the cross. He died to set us free from sin and death.

Everyone who receives this gift and dies to their sins can now be raised to new life in Him.

Sin had a hold on us in every way. We could not escape it on our own. But when we died to ourselves and received new life in Christ, then we were dead to sin and alive to righteousness. We were born again to a new life in the grace of Christ.

Part of the benefit of being born again in Christ is that we can know healing from sickness. Sickness is a part of the old covenant of sin and death. Now that we live in Christ we are healed by His wounds.

In this life healing is only partial, in the same way that our freedom from sin is not yet complete. And so we pray and sometimes people are healed and other times they are not.

The healing that we do receive points us to the future when sickness and death will be no more.

Prayer

Thank you Lord Jesus for dying for me. Than you for taking my sin and my death on your body and promising eternal life with you. Amen.

Reflection on Acts 2:42-47

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breaking-bread-together.jpg

 

Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2.42-47

Scripture

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.

Observation

The earliest believers recognised that they needed one another. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship and worship. The apostles performed many signs and wonders.

The believers shared their possessions and gave to those in need. They met daily in the temple and in their homes. And the Lord added to their number daily.

Application

This scripture passage is one of the key passages for the cell church movement. We see here that in the early days the church met, as the church, in big gatherings and in smaller gatherings in homes.

There was a strong sense of community, of belonging to one another that is often missing in many churches. They could see the Holy Spirit at work as signs and wonders were happening, as they loved on another, and as people were being saved.

It is easy to get caught in the christian “bubble” in which all of our relationships are with other christians. Somehow, in all of their exciting meetings, the first believers were maintaining friendships with non-believers in such a way that they were getting saved.

This community was not a closed cult. It was a very open group.

I get very excited when I meditate on this passage. It tells us what the church can be and should be. We just have to change our orientation from institution to God-centred community.

Prayer

Lord let my part of your church become the real church. May we develop a community of such intimacy with you and with each other that people are desperate to find you. Amen.